I'm not sure I have anything to offer to this
discussion.  So, I really should keep quiet.  This thing
is, I've never been known to do that.
 
As has been mnetioned many times, every school has their
cheers to get the fans involved.  And as usual, other school's
fans don't like them.  Tough beans.  I think this has more
to do with loyalty than common sense.
 
Having never played the game on a competitive level, I can't
say whether or not the Sieve cheer rattles the goalie.  But,
I do know the building cranks after UW scores a goal.  I can
remember a game against NMU a couple of years ago.  It was a
very tight game for the first period and a half.  The NMU goalie
let in a bunnie to  give UW a 2-0 lead.  The Sieve cheer seemed
especially loud.  Wisconsin scored 2 more times in the next five
minutes and the goalie definetly looked lost.
 
(WI went on to win the game 10-1)
 
I also think the UW band should be a part of the cheers.  This is
 
called the pep band (for good reason).  The sieve chant without
the UW band isn't the same (note this past year's Hockey Showdown).
 
There is such a thing called home-ice advantage for a number of reasons,
the least of which is the "seventh-man" (called the 12th-man in football).
 
So, go ahead, have your own cheers.  You certainly don't have to like
any from an opposing school.  But don't call it unsportsman-like.
 
 
later
jd
on wisCAHNsin
 
ps The sieve cheer would seem to rank behind the cheer "SOME" MN fans
yell after an opposing player gets whistled for a penalty (on the un-
sportsman-like scale)
 
pps Unless anyone out there has played any game in front of 8000-
18000 fans, I'm not sure we can comment on whether or not players can
get rattled by the crowd.  FWIW, I've seen numerous quotes in papers
from players (of various sports) concerning the crowd involvement.
One thing is clear, most players will say they are able to ignore
fans (if they are on the road) ot they get pumped up from the fans
(if they are at home).
 
I'll take this off the list with those that would like to discuss it
further.